U.S. patent number 7,004,466 [Application Number 10/157,098] was granted by the patent office on 2006-02-28 for determining the value of a jackpot award in a gaming machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to adp Gauselmann GmbH. Invention is credited to Paul Gauselmann.
United States Patent |
7,004,466 |
Gauselmann |
February 28, 2006 |
Determining the value of a jackpot award in a gaming machine
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of determining the
value of a jackpot award. The method entails operating a main game
to obtain an outcome, at least one of the outcomes providing an
initial award amount and enabling a secondary game. A player is
then allowed to wager the initial award amount in the secondary
game. The secondary game then identifies a winning or losing
outcome. The winning outcome results in an increase of the initial
award amount by some incremental amount. The player may continue to
wager all or a portion of the won amount until the player has
achieved the full jackpot award.
Inventors: |
Gauselmann; Paul (Espelkamp,
DE) |
Assignee: |
adp Gauselmann GmbH (Lubbecke,
DE)
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Family
ID: |
26009424 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/157,098 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2002 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20020180152 A1 |
Dec 5, 2002 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 29, 2001 [DE] |
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101 25 968.9 |
Feb 28, 2004 [DE] |
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102 08 943.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/139; 463/20;
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20130101); G07F 17/3211 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
1/18 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;273/292,138.1,139
;463/12-13,16-20,25-27 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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198 14 553 |
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Nov 1999 |
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DE |
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199 27 132 |
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Jun 2000 |
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DE |
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100 04 150 |
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Aug 2001 |
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DE |
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874337 |
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Oct 1998 |
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EP |
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2210191 |
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Jun 1989 |
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GB |
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2222712 |
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Mar 1990 |
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GB |
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WO 99/03078 |
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Jan 1999 |
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WO |
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WO 00/17825 |
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Mar 2000 |
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WO |
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WO 01/10523 |
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Feb 2001 |
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WO |
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Other References
European Search Report, 3 pages. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Harris; Chanda L.
Assistant Examiner: Rada, II; Alex F. R. P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patent Law Group LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method to determine the value of a jackpot award comprising:
a. operating a main game to obtain one of a plurality of outcomes,
at least one of the outcomes enabling the play of a secondary game
and awarding a variable initial award amount; b. determining and
displaying a jackpot amount prior to playing a secondary game, the
jackpot amount being a maximum award attainable in the secondary
game; c. disylaying a plurality of discrete steps leading to the
jackpot amount, each step leading to the jackpot amount displaying
a value that is an increasing percentage of the jackpot amount,
wherein the initial award amount won in the main game is associated
with one of the steps prior to playing the secondary game, said one
of the steps being determined by the amount of the initial award
amount, a number of successive wins in the secondary game needed to
win the jackpot amount being dependent on which step the initial
award amount is associated; d. allowing a player to wager all or a
portion of the initial award amount for playing a secondary game;
e. identifying a winning or losing outcome in the secondary game,
the winning outcome resulting in an increase of the initial award
amount by an incremental amount to obtain an intermediate amount;
f. allowing the player to wager all or a portion of the
intermediate amount; and g. identifying a winning or losing outcome
in the secondary game, the winning outcome resulting in an increase
of the intermediate amount by an incremental amount, with a maximum
award being the jackpot amount.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein act d further comprises allowing
the player to quit the secondary game and receive the initial award
amount.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein act f further comprises allowing
the player to quit the secondary game and receive the intermediate
amount.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating the
secondary game after the intermediate amount has reached or
exceeded the jackpot amount.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein a losing outcome in act e results
in a loss of the wager in act d.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein a losing outcome in act g results
in a loss of the wager in act f.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the outcomes
in act a is associated with a coefficient that determines the
initial award amount as a percentage of the jackpot amount.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial award amount is
displayed as a percentage of the jackpot amount.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the initial
award amount, the intermediate amount, and other amounts on a
jackpot display device so as to appear to be leading up to the
displayed jackpot amount.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the initial award amount and the
intermediate amount are displayed as percentages of the jackpot
amount.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising granting the jackpot
award to the player upon the player winning a sufficient number of
times in the secondary game.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein, in act f the player is limited
to wagering only the initial award amount.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the main game comprises
playing a simulated card game on a video screen.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the main game comprises
simulating rotating reels on a video screen and randomly stopping
the reels to obtain a symbol combination.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the particular outcome of the
main game determines the initial award amount.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: allocating a first
percentage of each bet made to play the main game to a jackpot to
be displayed to the player; allocating a second percentage of each
bet made to play the main game to a background jackpot that is not
displayed to the player; and upon a player winning the jackpot
amount, replenishing at least a portion of the jackpot amount from
the background jackpot to create an initial jackpot.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the background jackpot has at
least the same value as the jackpot to be displayed to the
player.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the background jackpot is
increased by the same percentage as the jackpot to be displayed to
the player.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the background jackpot is
increased at a higher percentage than the jackpot to be displayed
to the player.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein values on successive steps are
about half the value of the next step.
21. A method to determine the value of a jackpot award comprising:
operating a main game to obtain one of a plurality of outcomes, at
least one of the outcomes enabling the play of a secondary game and
awarding a variable initial award amount; determining a jackpot
amount prior to playing a secondary game, the jackpot amount being
a maximum award attainable in the secondary game; displaying the
jackpot amount determined in the step of determining a jackpot
amount; displaying a plurality of discrete steps leading to the
jackpot amount, each step leading to the jackpot amount displaying
a value that is an increasing percentage of the jackpot amount,
wherein the initial award amount won in the main game is associated
with one of the steps prior to playing the secondary game, said one
of the steps being determined by the amount, a number of successive
wins in the secondary game needed to win the jackpot amount being
dependent on which step the initial award amount is associated;
allowing a player to wager all or a portion of the initial award
amount for playing the secondary game; identifying a winning or
losing outcome in the secondary game, the winning outcome resulting
in an increase of the initial award amount by an incremental amount
to obtain an intermediate amount; allowing the player to wager all
or a portion of the intermediate amount; identifying a winning or
losing outcome in the secondary game, the winning outcome resulting
in an increase of the intermediate amount by an incremental amount,
with a maximum award being the jackpot amount; and terminating the
secondary game after the intermediate amount has reached the
jackpot amount.
22. A gaming device comprising: a control unit with a
microprocessor for operating a main game to obtain one of a
plurality of outcomes, at least one of the outcomes causing to be
displayed an initial award amount for a secondary game; and a
display device for displaying the secondary game, the secondary
game comprising: determining a jackpot amount based on the at least
one of the outcomes of the main game, such that the jackpot amount
is determined after the main game but prior to playing the
secondary game, the jackpot amount being a maximum award attainable
in the secondary game, wherein the jackpot amount in the secondary
game varies based on the outcome of the main game; displaying the
jackpot amount determined in the step of determining a jackpot
amount; allowing a player to wager all or a portion of the initial
award amount for playing the secondary game; identifying a winning
or losing outcome in the secondary game, the winning outcome
resulting in an increase of the initial award amount by an
incremental amount to obtain an intermediate amount; allowing the
player to wager all or a portion of the intermediate amount; and
identifying a winning or losing outcome in the secondary game, the
winning outcome resulting in an increase of the intermediate amount
by an incremental amount.
23. The device of claim 22 wherein the secondary game further
comprises terminating the secondary game after the intermediate
amount has reached or exceeded the jackpot amount.
24. A method to determine the value of a jackpot award comprising:
operating a main game to obtain one of a plurality of outcomes, at
least one of the outcomes causing to be displayed an initial award
amount, at least one of the outcomes enabling play of a secondary
game; determining and displaying a jackpot amount after the main
game but prior to playing the secondary game, the jackpot amount
being a maximum award attainable in the secondary game, wherein the
jackpot amount in the secondary game varies based on the outcome of
the main game; allowing a player to wager a first amount for
playing the secondary game; identifying a winning or losing outcome
in the secondary game, the winning outcome resulting in an increase
of the initial award amount by the first amount to obtain an
intermediate amount; allowing the player to wager a second amount;
and identifying a winning or losing outcome in the secondary game,
the winning outcome resulting in an increase of the intermediate
amount by the second amount, with a maximum award being the jackpot
amount.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first amount is the same as
the second amount.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the first amount is different
from the second amount.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention is related to gaming machines and, in particular, to
a method of determining the value of a jackpot award.
BACKGROUND
From the German magazine "Munzautomat," December 1998 issue, page
135, a jackpot system is known that comprises a housing with a
jackpot display on the front. Several gaming machines are connected
to the jackpot system. One disadvantage of this device is that
after the jackpot is triggered, the value of the jackpot is set to
zero and that thereafter for a long period of time the player is
not motivated to play because of the low jackpot award.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method of determining the value
of a jackpot award in a gaming machine. The method entails
operating a main game to obtain an outcome, where at least one of
the outcomes, such as a jackpot outcome, enables a secondary game.
In one example of the secondary game, a full jackpot amount is
displayed along with an initial percentage of the jackpot that the
player has just won. Either the main game or the secondary game may
determine the initial percentage and the full jackpot value. The
player may then accept the initial percentage or wager that amount
in the secondary game. If the player chooses to wager that amount,
the secondary game determines whether the player wins or loses the
wager. If the player wins, the player wins the wagered amount, and
the secondary game then continues. The player can keep wagering all
or a portion of the amount won in the secondary game until the full
jackpot value is reached or exceeded, or until the player no longer
has credits to play the secondary game, or until the player decides
to quit.
In one embodiment, portions of each bet in the main game are sent
to both a visible jackpot and a hidden jackpot. When a player wins
the visible jackpot, instead of the jackpot going down to zero, all
or a portion of the hidden jackpot is used as the starting visible
jackpot amount. In this way, players are still enticed to play the
game by the starting jackpot amount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming device in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a display showing a jackpot game in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process of determining a jackpot amount
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a jackpot display device in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing steps performed in one embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a gaming device 1 comprising a housing 2. Housing 2
comprises a front 3 with two openings 4 and 5, where a CRT 6 and a
jackpot display device 7 are respectively positioned. A control
unit 8 coupled to the housing 2 comprises a base plate 9 and two
upright elements 10. Each of upright elements 10 comprises a plate
11 with control consoles 12 having control elements 13.
In each upright element 10 there are control units, shown in FIG. 2
as control units 14 and 15. Both control units are linked to each
other. One of the control units is the master and the other is the
slave. The master controls jackpot display device 7 and CRT 6. As
can be seen in FIG. 1, the availability of multiple consoles 12
allows a number of players to play gaming device 1.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment and may be varied. For example,
instead of display device 7 and CRT 6, a single display device such
as a CRT or an LCD display may be used. The single display device
may be separated into two regions, one for displaying game symbols
and the other for displaying the jackpot amount. Furthermore,
housing 2, control unit 8, and control console 12 may be combined
into a single gaming terminal that may be played by a single
player. Each gaming terminal may comprise its own display device 7
and CRT 6.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of gaming device 1. Gaming device 1
comprises a master control unit 14 and a slave control unit 15
located in upright elements 10 (FIG. 1). Control consoles 12
comprise six control elements 13 that are connected to the control
units 14 and 15. Using a CRT controller 17 and a display controller
18, master control unit 14 operates CRT 6 and display device 7,
respectively.
A coin/credit detector 16 is connected to each control unit 14 and
15. Each coin/credit detector 16 may comprise a coin verifier, a
bill validator, and a read/write device for cards (e.g., credit
cards, smart cards, or printed tickets with bar codes). A dispenser
to issue coins and/or bills upon a player cashing out may be
employed. Alternatively, the player may be issued a paper ticket to
redeem for cash, or another form of cashless transaction may be
used.
Each control unit 14 and 15 is a micro-computer with an
input-output device to communicate with peripheral devices (e.g.,
control elements 13, lights in control console 12, etc.). The
micro-computers comprise a microprocessor (14a and 15a), a hard
disk ROM (14b and 15b), memory RAM (14c and 15c), a timing circuit,
a battery (14d and 15d), and a bus system comprising a data-,
memory-, address- and control bus (14e and 15e). Control units 14
and 15 may be connected to a network. In an alternative embodiment,
a single control unit may be used instead of two control units 14
and 15.
On the hard disk ROM 14b of control unit 14, all the game
information may be stored (e.g., pseudo random number generator,
monitor driver, pay tables, game programs). During a game, pseudo
random numbers generated by control unit 14 are determined and
stored in RAM 14c. All generated values during the game are also
stored in RAM 14c (e.g., remaining credits available to a player).
Master control unit 14 uses a pseudo random number generator stored
in hard disk ROM 14b to determine the time to trigger a jackpot and
which symbol combination will be generated to trigger the
jackpot.
The value of the jackpot is displayed using jackpot display device
7. Every time a player inputs money into the coin/credit device 16
(or plays a credit), control unit 14 distributes the value to the
actual (visible) jackpot displayed on display device 7 and to a
background jackpot stored in hard disk 14b. The background jackpot
is not displayed to a player, but is used to partially replenish
the actual jackpot when a payout is made from the actual
jackpot.
When the gaming device 1 has sufficient credits and play is
initiated, control unit 14 determines a combination of symbols
using a pseudo random number generator and displays the symbols on
CRT 6. Examples of games include simulated rotating reels, where
the reels are randomly stopped to obtain a symbol combination, or a
card game such as Blackjack. A player may control the game using
control elements 13 in control consoles 12. For example, in the
case of a Blackjack game, a player may operate control elements 13
to draw additional cards.
FIG. 3 shows one example of the display by CRT 6 (FIG. 1). The
display is divided into four regions, regions 20, 21, 22, and 23.
Each region corresponds to a control console 12 and to an
individual player using a control console 12. In one embodiment,
these regions are used for displaying the Blackjack hands; in
another embodiment, the regions may display game reels with
indicia. Displayed in the lower part of regions 20, 21, 22, and 23
are display fields 24, 25 and 26 showing the actual score, the bet,
and the remaining credits, respectively.
If a jackpot is triggered, all symbols (e.g., playing cards)
disappear, and the player who has won the jackpot can see the
possible awards in a win ladder 27, as is shown in region 23 in
FIG. 3. Win ladder 27 may take any suitable form. The highest step
28 of win display 27 is the full jackpot amount. Each award 29 on
ladder 27 is about half the value of the next step. The number of
steps required to obtain the full jackpot depends on the value of
the full jackpot and the value that is initially won by having
achieved the jackpot trigger combination. In the example of FIG. 3,
the player's initial win of 860 credits for achieving a triggering
combination causes the player to be five steps from winning the
full jackpot amount.
The player may then risk the current award amount in order to gain
the next higher award amount. To do this the player selects the
"RISIKO" icon 36 in FIG. 3, and a random number generator
determines if the player wins (moves up the ladder 27) or loses.
The game proceeds until the player loses or has achieved the
jackpot. In one embodiment, the game ends when the player loses
once. In another embodiment, the game ends when the player goes
down to zero credits on ladder 27. The main game (e.g., Blackjack)
may then be started again.
More detail of one process for playing the gaming device 1 is
described in the flowchart 100 of FIG. 4. The process begins at
step 102. The master control unit 14 of gaming device 1 detects if
there is a bet at step 104. A predetermined part of the bet (e.g.,
10%) is used to fill the jackpot system.
In one embodiment, the jackpot system comprises a visible jackpot
and at least one background jackpot. The background jackpot is used
to at least partially replenish the visible jackpot after a payout.
The amount of the visible jackpot is shown on the jackpot display
device 7 (FIG. 1). Both the values of the visible jackpot and the
background jackpot are stored in the hard disk ROM 14b. The ratio
of the visible jackpot to the background jackpot is adjustable by
the owner/operator of gaming device 1. In one embodiment, the
background jackpot is filled with a higher percentage than the
visible jackpot.
At step 106, an algorithm, run on control unit 14, determines
whether an outcome of the main game (e.g., Blackjack) is to trigger
the jackpot. Alternatively, the main game can be run, followed by
the determination of a jackpot win.
If there is not to be a triggering for the jackpot at step 106,
control unit 14 uses a pseudo random number generator to determine
the symbol combination to be displayed, as shown in step 120. This
symbol combination is displayed at step 122. At step 124, the
control unit 14 determines whether the symbol combination displayed
is a winning combination. If the combination results in a win, then
credits are paid out at step 128. If the result is a loss, the
process loops back and starts over again, at step 102.
Referring back to step 106, if the algorithm determines that a
jackpot is to be won, control unit 14 determines, in step 108, the
symbol combination to trigger the jackpot game. The different
trigger symbol combinations (e.g., ten) are statistically weighted
according to their desired probability of occurrence. A coefficient
is associated with each triggering symbol combination. The
coefficient determines the percentage of the visible jackpot
initially awarded. The range of the coefficient is greater than
zero and less than or equal to one. Symbol combinations with a
lower coefficient offer a smaller portion of the full jackpot.
In step 110, once the trigger symbol combination is determined, it
is displayed on CRT 6 (FIG. 1). In step 112, the jackpot win ladder
27 is then displayed in region 23, as shown in FIG. 3. The smallest
award on the win ladder has the value "0," and the highest award is
the full jackpot value. In-between are a variable number of steps
and values on the win ladder 27, ending on the full jackpot value.
The full jackpot value may not be known at the moment of the
trigger event at step 106, and the numbers to be displayed on the
win ladder 27 must be calculated. The award for the player
achieving the trigger symbol combination is identified on the win
ladder 27 shown in FIG. 3 by, for example, highlighting or flashing
the amount.
The word "RISIKO" (or other suitable icon) is also displayed on CRT
6. Thereafter, a player can decide to select the RISIKO icon, by
activating control elements 13, to risk the amount won in order to
win the next higher award (step 114). If the player loses, he loses
the gained award.
If a player decides to risk the amount already won, control unit 14
randomly determines whether the player wins the next award on the
win ladder 27 (step 116). In the event of a win, control unit 14
determines whether the player has won the entire jackpot (step
118). If the entire jackpot has been won, then the award is paid
out at step 128, and the actual jackpot is replenished using the
background jackpot. If the entire jackpot has not been won, the
player may choose to again risk the new amount won, at step
114.
In the event of a loss, control unit 14 will determine whether only
the initial win amount is left, at step 126. If a player still has
more than the initial win amount, then the process will loop back
to step 114, and the player may wager again. However, if a player
only has the initial award remaining, he will be paid the original
number of credits awarded for achieving the trigger symbol
combination, at step 128. Thus, in one embodiment, a player will
never lose the initial number of credits granted for achieving the
trigger symbol combination.
In an alternative embodiment, in the event of a loss, a player may
go down one step on the win ladder 27. In this embodiment, the user
may lose some of the original number of credits awarded. If the
user loses several times, a consolation win displayed on the win
ladder 27 may be granted. In yet another embodiment, a player may
lose all the initial number of credits awarded.
A pay table displayed on the control console 12 identifies to a
player the percentages of the full jackpot corresponding to the
various triggering symbol combinations. The win ladder 27 allows
the user to know how many games (steps) must be played (and won) to
reach the full jackpot award and, if desired, which award is the
consolidation award that is granted in a loss situation.
In an alternative embodiment, the various displays and controls may
be part of a stand-alone gaming machine for being played by only a
single player.
FIG. 5 shows an alternative jackpot display 150, which comprises a
cabinet 152 and a top portion 154 coupled to the upper part of
cabinet 152. Jackpot display 150 may be used with gaming device 1
of FIG. 1, instead of display device 7. Alternatively, jackpot
display 150 may be part of an individual gaming terminal that may
be played by a single player.
On the front 155 of the top portion 154, there is a digital display
156, which is connected to a control unit (e.g., control unit 14 in
FIG. 2). Below top portion 154, there are several transparent
backlit display fields 158 which are arranged vertically as a
ladder on the front 157 of cabinet 152. A controllable light
connected to the control unit is used to provide a backlight for
display fields 158. Any type of display may be used.
A control element 160 is also connected to the control unit.
Control element 160 may be replaced by one of the control elements
13 shown in FIG. 2.
Jackpot device 150 differs from display 7 (FIG. 1) in that the win
ladder 27 shown in FIG. 3 is replaced by a display of percentages
of the full jackpot.
When a jackpot is triggered by the main game, the control unit,
using a pseudo random number generator, determines the partial
amount (a percentage) of the full jackpot award. Alternatively, the
partial amount may be determined by the particular triggering
symbol combination in the main game. This partial amount may be
wagered in the secondary jackpot) game. The partial amount is
displayed by the corresponding display field 158.
Using control element 160, or control elements 13 in FIG. 2, the
partial award lit on front 157 may be wagered. The control unit
randomly determines a win or a loss. In a loss situation, the
player will lose the amount wagered or other portion of the amount
already won during the jackpot game. In one embodiment, in a loss
situation, the player will still retain the initial amount, and the
jackpot game will end.
In the event of a win during the jackpot game, the next step on the
ladder is illuminated, and a next round is carried out if the
player activates the control element 160, assuming the maximum
jackpot award has not been achieved. Each time the control element
160 is pressed, the pseudo random number generator determines if
the next award on the win ladder is granted. When the player has
achieved 100% on the ladder, the full jackpot award is paid. In one
embodiment, a win may cause the player to obtain 120% of the
displayed full jackpot award. A background jackpot (previously
described) may then be used to at least partially replenish the
visible jackpot.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing certain of the above described steps
performed in one embodiment of the invention.
Accordingly, the described systems create increased excitement in
players by providing increased player interaction and the
possibility of higher jackpots. The term "jackpot" is intended to
mean any award no matter what the award is called by the gaming
machine.
While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will
be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be made without departing from this invention in
its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to
encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *